But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting.
But thou, Bethlehem {H1035} Ephratah {H672}, though thou be little {H6810} among the thousands {H505} of Judah {H3063}, yet out of thee shall he come forth {H3318} unto me that is to be ruler {H4910} in Israel {H3478}; whose goings forth {H4163} have been from of old {H6924}, from everlasting {H3117}{H5769}.
But you, Beit-Lechem near Efrat, so small among the clans of Y'hudah, out of you will come forth to me the future ruler of Isra'el, whose origins are far in the past, back in ancient times.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel— One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.
But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.
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Matthew 2:6
And thou Bethlehem, [in] the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. -
John 7:42
Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? -
Luke 1:31
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. -
Luke 1:33
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. -
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. -
Isaiah 9:7
Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. -
Isaiah 11:1
¶ And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Micah 5:2 is a profound prophetic declaration concerning the birthplace and eternal nature of the promised Messiah. It stands as one of the most significant Old Testament prophecies directly fulfilled in the New Testament, specifically regarding the birth of Jesus Christ.
Context
The prophet Micah ministered in Judah during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, around the 8th century BC. His message often alternated between warnings of judgment for Israel's sins and promises of future restoration and the coming of a divine ruler. In this specific passage, Micah is speaking of a time when Israel will be in great distress, but from an unexpected place, a deliverer will arise. Bethlehem Ephratah refers to the small town of Bethlehem in the territory of Judah. The addition of "Ephratah" (meaning 'fruitful' or 'ash-heap' and also an ancient name for the area, possibly referring to the clan of Caleb or Rachel's burial place) distinguishes it from other Bethlehems and emphasizes its historical roots, going back to the time of Jacob (Genesis 35:19). The phrase "little among the thousands of Judah" signifies its humble status; "thousands" here refers to the military or administrative divisions, clans, or families, highlighting Bethlehem's relative insignificance compared to larger cities or tribal centers.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew phrase for "from of old, from everlasting" (miqqedem, mimeʻolam) conveys deep antiquity and timelessness. Miqqedem means "from antiquity," "from former times," or "from the very beginning." Mimeʻolam intensifies this, meaning "from eternity," "from everlasting," or "from time indefinite." Together, they emphatically declare the Messiah's existence before creation, underscoring His divine, eternal nature. This is not simply a long lineage but an eternal origin, distinguishing Him from all other human rulers.
Related Scriptures
Practical Application
Micah 5:2 offers several profound lessons for believers today: